Parts of the U.S. Constitution
Year 1787
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Year 1787
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Years
state
1791-1992
Form a more perfect union (make a better government)
Establish justice (courts)
Insure domestic tranquility (police)
Provide for the common defense (army)
Promote the general welfare (the gov. helps people to have good lives)
Secure the blessings of liberty (protect our freedoms)
1 - Creates the legislative branch (Congress)
2 - Creates the executive branch (President)
3 - Creates the judicial branch (Supreme Court)
4 - Relations between states (states must honor each other’s laws)
5 – Explains how to add amendments
6 - Relations between state & federal governments (The Constitution
[and the Federal government] is the supreme law of the land.)
7 - Explains the process for ratification of the Constitution by state govs.
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C
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2
7
1st – Freedom of religion, assembly, press, petition, speech (RAPPS)
2nd – Right to bear arms (have guns)
3rd – Housing of soldiers (you don’t have to let them stay at your house)
4th – Limits police search and seizure (need probable cause & a warrant)
5th – Rights if accused of a crime (due process protections; must be
indicted by a Grand Jury; can’t be tried twice for same crime; do
not have to testify against yourself; the gov. has to pay a fair price
if it takes someone’s property)
6th – Right to a fair trail (speedy trial; must be charged with crime; right to
face your accuser; right to a jury; right to have a lawyer)
7th – Rights in civil cases (right to a jury in civil cases)
8th – No cruel or unusual punishments or fines that are too high
9th – People also have rights not listed in the Constitution
10th – Powers not given to the Federal government are saved for the
state governments or for the people
11th –Rules for lawsuits against states
12th – Changes election process for president & vice president
13th – Abolishes (ends) slavery
14th – Defines who can be a citizen & guarantees rights to all citizens
(extends due process protection to actions of the state governments)
15th – Gives voting rights to former slaves and people (men) of all races
16th – Gives the government power to tax people’s income (their pay)
17th – Makes the people the ones who elect senators (senators used to
be elected by state legislators)
th
18 – Made making and selling alcohol illegal (this was later changed)
19th – Gave women the right to vote
20th – Sets the dates for the beginning and ending of presidential and
congressional terms (time having the job)
21st - Made the buying and selling of alcohol legal again (repealed the
18th amendment)
nd
22 – Limits the president to two terms (they can only be elected twice)
23rd – Gives people in Washington, DC the right to vote for president
24th – Forbids poll taxes (taxes you pay in order to vote)
25th – Establishes who will take charge if the president can’t do his/her job
26th - Lowers the voting age to 18.
27th - Rules for the salaries of members of congress (what they are paid)